I love winter. I have always loved the cold, the snow, and seeing my breath on my early walks to class. I have to admit that, even though winter will always be my favorite season, there gets to be a point where it’s too much. That point is February. Starting it is fine, but a week in with no snow, freezing temperatures, and nonstop cloud coverage can make anyone sad. But, as someone who is striving to not let the little things get them down anymore, I’m here to provide a few ways to keep on pushing ‘til spring has sprung.
- Make time for yourself!
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This seems like it would be common sense. That’s what I’m told when I tell people this, anyway. But I constantly find myself over- stressing about workload and responsibilities that sometimes, when I have a moment to myself, it’s hard to make myself calmly sit and enjoy it. It’s important, I’m learning, to make sure that all aspects of your life are satisfied, even if that means doing a quick puzzle over your math homework, or reading a few chapters of a good book to get rid of the craving. Maybe just put on some music and sit for ten minutes. Whatever makes you happy, whatever makes you calm, make sure you do it.
- Socialize with others!
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Now, I know this may seem to compete with the previous suggestion. “How do I make time for myself and for others?” a lot of people ask. It’s not always easy, I’ll tell you that. As someone who finds it so easy to just sit in bed and binge-watch a TV series, sometimes being social can sound exhausting,but this week, I’ve recently had to be social a lot more, and it’s really brought up my mood. I can’t credit my good mood only to being with people, because sometimes it’s not all that great, but laughing with people in my band or just dancing with someone in Zumba can be a real pick-me-up. It’s the little moments shared with people that can make a difference, even if that means sitting in someone else’s bed and binge-watching a show together.
- Contacting Home
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Home doesn’t have to mean your house or your family; it can mean anything or anyone from before you began your new chapter here at Kutztown. February got extremely busy for me extremely fast, and it suddenly felt very isolating. I hadn’t talked to my sister for a while, it was Valentine’s Day, and I had my first big exam looming over my head. Little things like talking to my grandparents every Sunday- or calling to tell my parents good news helps to ground me. Sometimes, reading a good book or a letter from my mom will hold me over. Friends, family, or a good milkshake can help connect me to home, and it helps to get me through the butt-end of February.
- Cherish the stupid things.
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This sounds like a weird one. Here are some examples to explain it. My mom sent me a Magic 8-ball and a children’s book called “I Love You, Stinky Face” for Valentine’s Day. My English teacher told me a story about a long time ago when a Puritan man in Salem, while he was farming, got hit with crabs. He claimed it was Satan, but it was just some kids who stole some crabs from the dock. (I imagine they threw the crabs like ninja stars). My friends adopted two fish who, though they are as dumb as doorknobs, are hilarious to watch interact. These stupid, small memories throughout the day make me laugh and smile. They bring me just a little bit of joy when things aren’t so joyful. The little things help make the big things seem less daunting sometimes.
- Keep Track of the Good Things
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Okay, I know that journaling is not for everyone. In fact, I wasn’t on board until January of this year when I finally decided to fill up all the empty notebooks I have lying around my house. But that’s how I do it. You can keep track of good things that happen to you in so many ways. You could keep a list in the notes app on your phone so one day you’ll look back and have no idea what it means, but it’ll still be funny. You could draw sketches of the moment. You could just keep a list in a notebook of one thing you’re grateful for each day. It seems like a commitment, but it’s maybe 30 seconds out of your day to remind you that, even if times are dark (literally, come on Daylight Savings!), there are good things happening in the world.
Whether these were helpful or not, don’t fret, because the end of winter is almost near. Though I will be sad to see the cold go, I will not be sad to see the sun.